Your Phone Is Not a Fitness Coach
The fitness industry is failing us. We're drowning in information because the technology producing it won't slow down. Saturated with tips and tricks for losing weight, eating better, getting stronger, getting thinner, it can feel like every time you open your phone, you are preparing to receive advice. The crazy thing is that this would be so unnatural or even annoying if it were being done in person. Could you imagine being at a bbq and someone started telling you everything wrong with your plate, your body, your workout?
Now, we understand that it’s not quite the same. We make a decision to scroll through these apps, follow influencers, save the post and try the latest tricks. But as communication in person is dwindling more and more, our digital consumption is likely taking up more of our day than any other form of interaction.
We see the irony in criticizing the wellness influencer, being that we actively participate in social media. We know that owning a business means having a digital presence and we do everything we can to show up responsibly. Hoping that our posts help to empower not belittle. Lift up, not shame.
Recently we posted about how not everyone has the same 24 hours. We are constantly being flooded with coaches, trainers and fitness enthusiasts shaming the population. In saying “We all have the same 24 hours,” they somehow believe that they will motivate people into showing up for a workout.
We call utter bullshit. We don’t have the same 24 hours. lindsay and i are married with three children under the age of 8 including an infant. We workout for a living and we STILL struggle some days.
We have an incredibly diverse community of people working out. Every single one of them carries a different load. From full time jobs to taking care of elderly parents; going to kids’ soccer practices to picking up a gift for the next birthday party. And it’s not only time commitments that can get in the way. Mental health struggles can have a significant impact on our motivation and our physical ability to show up and exercise.
We are all feeling the same pressures from today’s perfectionist culture. Sleep more, but don’t sleep too much. Be more present with your children, but hustle your ass off to dominate at work. Don’t overdo it on screen time, but stay informed all the time. Show up for friends, family and community members, but make sure to have time to yourself.
Some days it feels impossible to keep up. And it is. Doing it all is impractical and is robbing us of joy and life.
We are here to give you permission to find balance. Yes, we run a fitness business. And yes, we want you to show up to your workouts and to fuel, nourish and respect your body. But we don’t expect you to be perfect. We understand that life happens. We see you juggling the countless responsibilities and showing up anyway. And we applaud you.
We will continue to preach the long haul. Establishing a base of clean eating AND enjoying the celebratory meal with your friends. Showing up for 80% of your workouts AND forgiving yourself when you just don’t have it in you for the other 20%. It isn’t about hitting the perfect calorie deficit every single day. It isn’t about avoiding modifications or pushing yourself to complete defeat.
Real fitness comes with time. Real healthy living comes with commitment. When you get to the point where eating food makes you feel energized, splurging with friends is never a bad thing. When you get to the point where your workout serves your mental health, letting it go is no longer an option.
We are here for the big picture. The lifestyle transformation. Giving you the space to live your life and to make changes that allow you to feel your best doing it.
We don’t have the same 24 hours. It might have taken a lot more energy and sacrifice to get to your workout than the person next to you. We see you. Keep going, fam.
